Controller



aa/f H. D. JAMES. CONTROLLER. APPLICATION FILED MAY I5; 916'- 1 ,354, 1 93. Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

I 5 WITNESSES: 2 L INVENTOR M. Z. Henry 8. .fame5 B I I O AITORNEY H. D. JAMES, CONTROLLER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, ms.

0 2. 92 H 00 4 W 0 mm wn S d2 m ,mb a P S n R 0 N W m m v! Wm H I M j 4 7 H 2 WITNESSESZ iww * STATES PATENT oer-ace.

HENRY I). JAMES, 0F WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COIWPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 28 1920.

Application filed May 16, 1916. Serial No. 97,849.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY D. JAMES, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Controllers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to controllers for electric motors and particularly to controllers that are employed in connection with motors requiring heavy currents in starting under load.

My invention has for one of its objects to provide a mechanism of the above-indicated character in which the switching mechanism and the safety devices in connection therewith are embodied in a unitary mechanism.

A second object of my invention is to provide an improved mechanism for automatically retaining the operating handle of a controller in its operative position and for releasing the same upon the occurrence of predetermined circuit conditions.

in the construction of controlling devices of the same general character as that of my invention, it has been the usual practice to inclose the switching mechanisms in casings and to attach the usual overload devices and no-voltage release mechanisms to the. outer side of the casings. It will be readily appreciated that such an arrangement is not only unattractive in appearance but the mechanisms outside the casings are not protected in any way unless a separate casing is )rovided.

r ccording to the present arrangement, I so arrange the various parts of the control ler that the switching mechanism and the no-voltage and overload devices may all be conveniently contained in a single casing. The various parts are not only protected by reason of their being inclosed, but the various cooperating parts may be located adjacent to each other.

Mv invention, which comprises numerous other details, in addition to those set forth above, will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a controller constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the details of a portion of the switching mechanism. Fig. 3

is a view, similar to Fig. 1, but taken at right angles thereto. Fig. 4 is a view of the details of a safety device.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the controlling mechanism comprises :1 casing 1 having a stationary part 2 that is adapted to be secured to any suitable support and a part 3 for inclosing the switching mechanism. The part 3, which may constitute a tank for oil, in case the apparatus 1s employed in connection with high voltage circuits, is removably secured to the stationary part 2 by means of latching mechanisms l. The casing further comprises a removable cover member 5 which is loosely hinged to the member 3 by means of mutually engaging hook portions and is secured in position by a latching mechanism 6 that is located at the top of the casing.

The switching mechanism comprises two rows of stationary contact members 7 that are mounted upon, and insulated from, supporting bars 8. A corresponding number of pairs of oppositely disposed movable contact members 9 are mounted upon and insulated from a rocking shaft 10. The respective contact members 9 are pivotally supported by pins 11, and the members of each pair are yieldingly retained in their relative positions illustrated in Fig. 3 by means of coil springs 12.

The several groups of coact-ing movable and stationary contact members are separated by are shields or barriers 13 of insulating material that are supported by rods l l, The rods 14 are suspended from the means for supporting the shaft 10 by a pair of spring clips 15 that are provided with suitable holes for receiving the ends of the rods. By means of this arrangement, the arc shield structure may be readily removed when it is desired to inspect or repair the switch mechanism.

The switching mechanism is controlled by an operating handle 17 located outside the casing and connected to a rotatable shaft 18 that is mounted in bearings 19. The shaft 18 is operatively connected to the shaft 10 by means of a segmental gear mechanism 20. The employment of segmental gear wheels for connecting the operating shaft to the shaft for supporting the movable contact members permits the movable members of the switching mechanism to move through a circular path of much shorter radius than would be possible if it were necessary to mount the movable switch elements directly upon the operating shaft 18.

The operating handle 17 is normally-retained in its inoperative position by a centering device 21 which comprises a stationary pin 22, two oppositelydisposed curved arms 23 that are pivotally supported by the shaft 18, a spring 24 which resists the separation .ofthe arms 23, and a pin 25 that is mounted upon an arm 26. The arm 26 is secured to the-shaft 18 and extends upwardly therefrom.

Means are provided, also. for insuring that the operating handle can be moved in one direction only from its inoperative position. A pivotally mounted latching member 27 is provided with a notch 28, one side 29 of which is inclined to the axis of the member 27 and projects laterally beyond the other side of the notch which is normal to the axis of the shaft. This arrangement insures-that the handle 17 can be moved only in one direction from its inoperative position in which the pin 25 is seated in the notch. 28. When the handle is operated to its starting position, the pin 25 is actuated to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, to raise the member 27, whereupon the handle be actuated in the opposite direction to its running position if it is moved rapidly.

The arm 26 is provided, at its upper end, with a projecting pin or rod 30 which coacts with a latching mechanism 31 to retain the 28 and its connected mechanism in their running positions. The latching mechanism 31 comprises a pivotally mounted arm that is provided with a hook 33 extendat right angles thereto. The hook 33 is provided with a notch 34 and an inclined portion 35 for coacting with the pin 30. An electromagnet 36 retains the arm 32 in a vertical position when the, pin 30 has been actuated into engagement with the notch 34. The switching mechanism and the handle 17 are retained in their respective running positions by the electromagnet 36 except upon failure of voltage, opening of the circuit of the electromagnet coil or other abnormal conditions to be later described.

A transformer 38, which is connected in circuit with the motor to reduce the voltage applied to the latter in starting, is secured tothe casing member 2 by means ofbolts 39 and spacing sleeves 40. An overload relay 41 is secured to the transformer 38 and .is accordingly supported by the bolts 39.

The relay 41 controls the circuit of the coil of the electromagnet 36 and operates to open the circuit of the coil when the load exceeds a predetermined value.

A voltage transformer 42 for reducing the voltage applied. to the 110-voltage release magnet 36 is located immediately above the transformer 38 and is secured to the casing member 2 by bolts 43. Suitable terminals 44 for connection to the line conductors are located in the upper portion of the casing and are supported by a rod 45. The terminals 44 are connected to a second set of terminals 46 located near. the upper front portion of the casing in such position that they may be conveniently connected to the transformer 38 and to the switching mechanism and are accessible for the purpose of inspection or repair.

The terminal members 46 are mounted upon, and insulated from, a rod 4'] which extends transverselyof the casing. Disks 48 of insulating material are mounted on the shaft 47 near the sides of the casing and serve to prevent the cover member 5 from coming in contact with the terminal members 46 when the cover member, is removed from the casing.

The casing member 5 is provided With amember 49 of insulating material which projects downwardly a sufficient distance to engage the arm 32 in case the latter is in its vertical position when the cover member 5 is moved from the casing; By means of this arrangement, it is impossible to remove the cover member 5 and allow the switching mechanism to remain in its running posit1on.

Another arrangement for preventlng the removal of the cover member 5 without first I bringing the operating mechanism to its ofi' position is illustrated in Fig. 4, in which similar reference numerals are employed to designate corresponding parts. The latching member 27 is provided with a projecting member 50 which coacts with a hook member 51 that is mounted on the cover member 5 to lock the latter in its closed position except when the pin 25 occupies the notch 28 in the member 27. The various parts occupy these relative positions only when the lever 17 and its connected mechanism are in their intermediate or inoperative positions.

Reference may now be had to Fig. 2, in which the details of a portion of the switching mechanism are illustrated. A member 52, to which a contact member 9 is'secured,

as shown in Fig. 3, is pivotally mounted on a pin 11. The stationary portion ofthe switch comprises a member 53 and a terminal member or conductor 54, all of which are retained in their respective illustrated positions by the pin 11. In assembling the switch mechanism, the members 52, 53 and 54 are placed in position relatively to the pin 11 before the ends of the latter are upset or riveted. By providing the pin 11 with reduced portions to form suitable shoulders, the sides of the stationary member 53 are spaced apart and are rigidly held in proper relation, and the terminal member 54 is se' curely attached thereto. The advantage of this arrangement consists in the ease with which the various parts'may be assembled and the small amount of labor required to rivet the ends of the pin 11. All of the .various parts except the pin 11 may be punched from metal plate of suitable thickness.

It may be assumed that the switching mechanism is electrically connected in any suitable manner (not shown) to the pri mary windings of an alternating-current motor and that the various parts occupy their respective illustrated or inoperative positions. To start the motor, the lever 17 is first actuated to rock the shaft 18 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3. The switching mechanism is thereby actuated to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, to effect the engagement of the contact members 7 and 9. The arm 26 and the pin 25 move to the right, and the latch member 27 is raised to its uppermost position.

When the motor has been accelerated sufficiently, the lever 17 is moved quickly in the opposite direction to its running position to effect a quick separation of the contacts 7 and 9 on the one side and to efiect a correspondingly quick engagement of the ,coacting contact members on the other side of the switching mechanism. A rapid movement of the mechanism is made necessary by reason of the fact that the latch member 27 engages the pin 25 and retains the various parts in their respective inoperative positions unless the pin 25 is moved across the notch 28 before the latch member 27 is actuated by gravity to engage the When the arm 26 and the pin 30 are moved to the running position, the latter engages the arm 32 to actuate the latter to its vertical position in which it is retained by the electromagnet 36. The hook member 33 is in such position that it is not engaged by the pin 30 during the movement above described. As the arm 32 is moved to its vertical position, the hook member 33 rocks in a counter clockwise direction about its point of pivotal support, andjthe pin 30 is thereby seated in the notch 34. The arm 26 and the various parts to which it is connected are retained in their respective running positions under all normal conditions. The arm 32 is released, however, upon a failure of voltage and the resultant deenergization of the magnet 36 or upon the opening of the circuit of the latter by the overload relay 4:1. The arm 32 will be withdrawn from its vertical position to release the arm 26 in case the cover member 5 is removed from the casing while the various parts are in operative position by reason of the engagement of the arm 32 by'the member 19.

which is attached to the other arm 23, is

placed under tension, since the last mentioned arm is held in its normal position by the stationary pin 22. It is obvious, therefore, that movement of the arm 26 in either direction places the spring 2% under tension.

and that the arm 26 is restored to its intermediate position when it is released by the latching mechanism 31 or when the handle 17 is released by the operator without first securing the switching mechanism in position by means of the latching mechanism 31.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a controller, the combination with a switching device, and a casing therefor comprising a cover member, of means comprising a latching mechanism for controlling said device, and a member connected to said cover member for actuating said controlling means upon the removal of said cover member under predetermined conditions.

2. In a controller, the combination with a switching device, and a casingtherefor comprising a cover member, of latching means for controlling said device, and a member connected to said cover member for actuating said latching means upon the removal of said cover member under predetermined conditions. 4

3. In a controller, the combination with a pair of relatively movable contact members, and a latching mechanism for controlling them, of a relatively movable inclosing member having means for actuating said mechanism upon the removal of. said inclosi-ng member when the contact members are in operative position.

4. In a controller, the combination with a no-voltage release device, and means comprising a removable member for inclosing the same,'0f means actuated by said member for effecting the same operations as that of said device upon the removal of saidv member.

5. In a controller, the combination with a switch member, an electrical conductor, and a member adapted to be secured to said conductor, of common means for pivotally supporting said switch member and for permanently connecting the other member to said switch member.

' 6. In a controller, the combination with a switch member, an electrical conductor and a terminal member adapted to be secured to said conductor, of a pin for pivotally supporting said switch member having means comprising a shoulder portion and a riveted'head portion for rigidly securing said terminal member thereto.

7. In a controller, the combination with a pair of coacting contact members, of arcshielding means for said contact members,

a member for supporting said arc-shielding means and a pair of spring clips for engaging said supporting member. 5

8. In a controller, the combination with an electromagnet having an armature member connected thereto,"- of an element connected to said member having a projecting portion and a movable pin for engaging said member to cause said projecting portion to lock the pin in one position.

9. In a controller, the combination with a switch member, and means tending to retain said member in a central inoperative position, of means for retaining said member in an operative position, said retaining means comprising an electromagnet, a latching device controlled by said electromagnet and a member to be engaged by said device when the latter has been actuated by said member into operative relation to said electromagnet.

10. Ina controller, the combination with a pair of relatively movable contact members and means for controlling them, of a relatively niovable inclosing member having means for actuating said controlling means, and latching mechanism for holding said controlling means in locked position.

11. In a motor controller, a casing, a

transformer forv the motor secured within said casing centrally thereof, a switching device at one end of said casing, means for controlling said device, a no-voltage release device for controlling said means within and at the other end of said casing, an overload device for controlling said no-voltage device carried by said transformer, and a voltage transformer for said no-voltage device situated adjacentto said first-named transformer and said no-"voltage device.

12. In a controller, the combination with a plurality of casings, and a cover member for one of said casings hinged to another ofsaid casings, of a switching device in one ofsaid casings, and means connected to said cover member and in another of said casings for controlling said device.

13. In a controller, the combination with a plurality of casings, of a switching device in one of said casings, means for controlling said device in another of said casings, a cover vmember for said other casing, and a member connected to said cover member for actuating said controlling means.

14. In a controller, the combination with aplurality of casings, of a switching device in one of said casings, means for controlling said device 1n another of said casings; a

. to said controlling cover member for. said other casing, and means connected tosaid controlling means and to said cover member' for preventing the opening of said cover member when said controlling means is in an operative position.

15. In a controller, the combination with a switching device, and a casing therefor comprising a cover member, of means for controlling said device, latching safety mechanism connected to said cover and to said means, and a member connected to said cover member for actuating said controlling 7 means.

, 16. In a controller, the combination with a casing having a stationary part and a cover member, and a stationary contact mechanism at one end of the stationary part, of a movable contact mechanism mounted on said stationary part adjacent stationary contact mechanism, means for controlling said movable contact mechanism, and a member connected to said cover member and relatively removed from said contact members that is operable, when the controlling means is in operative position, to actuate said controlling means upon the removal of said cover member.

17 In a controller, the combinationwith a switching device, and a casing therefor comprising a cover member, of means for controlling said device, means for centering said controlling means, and means connected to both of said means for. preventing'the opening of said cover-member when said switching device occupies an operative position.

18. In a controller, the combination with a switching device, and a casing therefor comprising a covermember, of means for controlling said device, means for centering said device, and means rigidly connected to said cover member for initiating the actuation of said controlling means from an op erative position to render the centering means effective upon the removal of said cover member.

' 19. In a controller, the combination with a" switching device and a containing casing therefor having avcover member, of an arm for controlling said device, means for preventing the slow actuation of said arm in one direction and means connected to said preventing means for locking said cover member in its closed position,

20. In a controller, the combination with a stationary contact mechanism and a movable contact mechanism pivotally mounted adjacent thereto, of an arm for controlling said movable mechanism, a segmental gear 1 tions.

21. In a controller, the combination with a device and a latchingmeehanism for con trolling it, of a relatively movable inclosing member adapted to actuate said mechanism upon the removal of said inclosing member when said device is engaged by said mechanism. H

22. In a motor controller, a casing, a transformer for the motor secured within said casing centrally thereof; a switching device at one end of said casing, means for controlling said device, a no-voltage release device for controlling-said controlling means within and at the other end of said casing, and an overload device for controlling said said casing centrall no-voltage device carried by said transj former.

23. In a motor controller, a casing, a

transformer for the motor secured within thereof, a switching device atone end 0 said casing, a pair of rods within and at the other end of said casing, terminal members mounted upon one of said rods for connecting said switching device to a source of energy,' and a second set of terminal members mounted upon the other of said rods for connecting said transformer'to said switching device.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto iglliscrihed my name this26th day of April,

HENRY D. JAMES. 

